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An employer ignored its own alternative "rehabilitative" paths to termination for alcohol and drug breaches, which, if applied, would "very likely" have prevented a worker's death, a coronial inquiry has found.

A unique study of "shift work tolerance" has identified the types of workers that are most likely to suffer from serious intolerance symptoms, highlighting the need to consider occupation type and work context when tailoring work schedules to individuals.

Australian workplace health promotion interventions are failing to target four of the five main modifiable lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease, and have a disproportionate focus on lower risk white-collar workers, a study has found.

Most Australian employers in a high-hazard industry are aware of the need to train workers on WHS issues like harassment and bullying, but many deliver this training through single, isolated sessions that are known to have little impact, a series of workshops and interviews with safety professionals has found.

The resurgence of debilitating lung diseases in a major industry has come with a shift in disease type and severity, which researchers have attributed to modern work methods. They say their findings highlight the importance of controlling respirable dust.

With 73 per cent of people reporting higher stress and anxiety levels during menopause, becoming a menopause-friendly workplace through education, flexible workplace policies and open conversation will not only support women through this normal life stage, but help the employer meet its WHS duties, according to a commercial health expert.

Menopause often causes "debilitating" symptoms in workers in one of the fastest growing employment groups, and the synonymous hot flushes and night sweats have the least impact, according to a study that also identifies the two most valuable workplace supports. Another study has identified widespread discrimination against pregnant workers.

Workers at a "big four" firm have experienced bullying normalised as performance management, and "insane pressure to churn work" - factors causing harm to many of them, an Elizabeth Broderick review of the firm has found.

Developing a roster-matched sleep schedule, planning transitions to days off and using napping as a tool, are among 18 new "guidelines" for shift workers developed by Australian researchers to address unique challenges overlooked by traditional advice.

A project creating well-fitting 3D-printed work wear and sound-absorbing furniture for "recovery spaces" has shown the design phase is key to creating tools for preventing workplace injuries from psychosocial hazards.